All Free and Clear - Pros and Cons

[eastkygal]

I'd love to hear your experiences with this detergent. I have read people here writing that they thought it was good for their dipes. It is definitely helping me to eliminate stinkies in my dipes. However, I read on a CD blog that it contains fungicides that can build up and eventually cause repelling. My alternative detergent at this time would be Arm and Hammer Essentials Free, which I haven't tried yet.

[Galatea]

Subbing!

The only issue with the Essentials Free is optical brighteners, which can be problematic with synthetics (cause buildup.)

[Chryseis]

I bought some All F&C because it was on sale, plus I had coupons, etc. Two washes later I had terrible stinkies. Something about the All just did not work with our (somewhat hard) water. I bought a ton of it, so I'm using it for my clothes (not much of a fan for that, either) until it's gone. So if you try it, maybe start w/a smaller bottle...

[sunnymw]

I used one bottle of All F&C and DH said it made him itch, and after awhile my dipes weren't the best or cleanest anymore. I switched back to Publix F&C which is supposed to be "based" on the All version, but it works so much better

[Llyra]

I've used it for four and a half years on diapers, and never had any problem with it. We had one rash incident, that turned out to be polyester sensitivity, and one stink incident, that turned out to be related to rash-cream. No other problems.

[GardenStream]

I used All F&C when I first started using cloth. It was fine for a couple weeks, but then we started having huge stink issues and the most awful ammonia smell. DS ended up with what looked like chemical burns. I'm honestly not sure if it was the All or if it was me being new and thinking I could just wash the dipes once and be done. I was also using a front load washer at the time.

It could have been the wash routine not getting all of the soap out, I honestly don't know. It was so horrible that I instantly switched to Charlies, added a couple rinse cycles and haven't had those issues again. I'm not about to put my kids through that again just to figure out what the problem was. We don't have any issues now, so we're sticking with the current system.

[bbrandonsmom]

We've been using it since xmas, as we got a front loader and it's the only detergant I know of that I can use and am not allergic to. So far it's working great. All our clothes and dipes are nice and clean. No lingering smells on the dipes at all.

[joshs_girl]

I've been using it on our clothes for a while and our dipes for six months and haven't had a single issue. I have the world's cheapest W&D and do a cold/cold with soap and a hot/cold with no soap. About once a month or so, I throw in an extra hot wash (we don't even have the option for a hot rinse!) to just stay on top of any buildup issues.

[TeaLeaf]

It contains a brightener which causes build up. I wouldn't personally use it.

see http://www.diaperjungle.com/detergent-chart.html

[Mrsboyko]

Originally Posted by joshs_girl

I have the world's cheapest W&D and do a cold/cold with soap and a hot/cold with no soap. About once a month or so, I throw in an extra hot wash (we don't even have the option for a hot rinse!) to just stay on top of any buildup issues.

This exactly. I also sometimes add a scoop or 2 of an oxygen bleach alternative if there was a lot of poop in the load.

[eastkygal]

I've washed 5 times and so far so good. I add vinegar to my rinse. It has helped me keep my stinkies away that I've been battling for quite awhile now. I hope it continues to work.

[seaheroine]

I use it for all laundry, clothes, linens, diapers. I had some problems with stink on Thirsties diapers but that is it. All of my cotton diapers have had no issue. I do two hot washes, though, and diapers come out smelling like sweet, clean water.

I've used natural detergents in the past but had problems with buildup in the washer itself, along with clothes fading prematurely. I really like the All as it gets things clean and they last longer...I wear black to work and really need it to last as long as possible.

I've been using it for fifteen months now and no issues other than the Thirsties. This was before I implemented the last hot wash though, and I do think it has something to do with making sure all the soap is gone. I've only been using cotton and bamboo since then.

[eastkygal]

[Sasharna]

I used it for a long time for diapers for another child (not my own), with no problems there. However, it was really rough on clothing, causing pilling that I'd never experienced with supposedly harsher detergents. It also irritated my son's skin, while plain old Tide (dyes, perfumes and all!) never gave him a problem.